Display-board.



DISPLAY BOARD.

PPLIVOATION FILED SEPT. 13, 1912.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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' |NN|NGS IN VEN TOR l Anon/ms H. DETRICK.

V DISPLAY BOARD.

APPLIogTIoN FILED SEPT. 13, 1912.

1,074,414. 4 Patented sept. 30,1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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H. DETRICK.

DISPLAY BOARD.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 1a, 1912.

1,074,414. Patented Sept. 30,1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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v DISPLAY BOARD.

APPLIoATloN-HLED SEPT. 13, 1912. 1,074,414. l Patented sept. 3o, 1913.

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' UNITED stra citizen of the United TEs rn'riurr oFFIoE.

maar pararon; or HOUSTON,- Texas.

.fr y n l JprsrLAY-nomanei A 13,074,414. i speemmorniers met Patented sept, 3o, 1a13. f

Application filed Septemberl, 1912. Serial No. 720,203.

To kall 'who/mit may. concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY DETRICK, a States,r residing atlouston, in the county of Hars and Siate of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Display-Boards, of, which the `following is a specification. My invention relates to new and useful improvements in display boards and has more particular relationV to a display board whereon may be represented the movements lflthe players in the ordinary game of base The object of the invention is to provide a display board of the character described, representing a base ball diamond and eld and provided with electric lights to represent those participating in the game.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a system of electric wiring whereby the movements of the different players may be indicated by the manipulation of a current switch, and whereby certain data incidental to the progress of the game may alsobe indicated byelectric lights on the display board, which are controlled by said electric wiring system.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has particular .relation to certain novel features of construction and operation, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accom- 'panying drawings, wherein- "liigure 1 shows a plan view of the diamond and field equipped with electric lights to 'represent `the players and also electric lights provided for the purpose of showing certain data incidental to the progress of the game. -vFig. 2 is a plan view of the 'switch board, showing the switches byy means of which the various electric lights are conj nectedwith and disconnected from the common electric current wire. Fig.- 3 is a reverse, or back view of the iield shown in Fig.

1.vvhich shows the electric wiring system, andFig. k4 is a reverse viewof the switch f board shown in Fig. 2, Figs. 3 and 4 together showing the complete electric wirin system. Referring now more. particular y to the drawings, the numerall refers to a large elect-ric .light which designates the batter and beginning at the home plate and arranged. in alinement are a number ,of smaller electric lights, numbered from 2 to 2 6 inclusive, which extend to the first. base. The

runner on Iirst base is represented by a bered from 54 to numeral 27. row of smaller electric lights, numbered' from 2 8 toi 52 inclusive, are allned with each other and extend from first t o second base. The runner on second basels represented by a largey electric light and indicated by the numeral 53. In a llke manner, a row vof small electric lights, num- 78, inclusive, are arranged 1n ahnement from second base-to. the third base. The runner on third base is represented by a large electric light and indicated by the numeral 79, and from said third base to the home plate, a number of small electric llghts, numbered' from 80 to 1.04, inclusive, are arranged in alinement, the said electric llghts numbered from 1 to 104, inclusive, thus being arranged in theform of a diamond, the home plate and bases'being made conspicuous by large .lights and the said lights having a back ground of..b1ack or some similar decided color, also in the shape of a diamond.

The pitcher `is represented by an electric light and designated by the numeral 105, located at'the usual place within the diamond and the catcher is represented by an ellectric light 106, located behind `the home p ate. e The first baseman, when playing on the base is indicated by a large electric light 107 and when playing oil'I the base is deslgnated by aA large electric light 108.

The second baseman when playing off of the base is designated by a large electric large electric `light and indicated by the light 109, but when playing on the base is i indicatedv by a similar light and in a similar manner the third baseman when oit of the base is indicated by an electric light 112 and when playing on the base is indicated by a large .electric4 light 113. Short-stop, riht field-man, n fie dmanare indicated by electric lights,

numbered respectively, 111, 114, 115 and 116. l

The inactive players of the respective teams awaiting to be called to the bat are indicated'by electric lights arranged along the respective side lines, indicated bythe numerals 117 to 125, inclusive and by the numerals 126to 134, inclusive. An error is center field-man andV left lorsl indicated by anelectric light 135 and outs by i the electric lights 136,137 vand 138, respectively." vStrikes are indicated by electric lights 140, 141 and 142 and in a similar manner balls are indicated by electric lights 143, 144, 145 andr146. The numeral 1,39 refers necting with the common wire.

to an foul.

The switches, by means of which the current is completed or broken from the common wires to the electric lights above referred to, are shown on the switch board as illustrated in Fig. 2 and numbered, respectively, fi'oni 101, to 140f and the contact points of said switches,

electric light provided to indicate a with the'wires leading to said lights are shown partially in Fig. 3 and completely in Fig. 4 and are designated, respectively, by the numerals 1 to 146, inclusive.

In the form shown, two common wires are used, which are designated, respectively, by the numerals 148 and 149 which are controlled, respectively by two main switches indicated by M. S. No. 1 and M. S. No. 2.

It is to be observed that only the field and diamond, as shown in Fig. 1 is to be exposed to the View of the audience and the switch board shown in Figs.f2 and 4 and the wiring system will be concealed from view, the switch board being placed in some suitable place so that the switches may be readily manipulated.

Beneath the diamond is arranged a score board of the usual form and above this score board are placed two electric lights 150 and 151, equipped with reflectors which will `refleet the light upon the score board Where a permanent score is kept, showing the result of the game by innings.

It is to be observed that while I have shown two common wires for conducting the electric current, it is possible to use only one common wire and all of the lights may be fed from this single wire and either one or two common wires may be used, as is found most desirable. I desire to call attention particularly,however, to the fact that I -have provided a great number of electric lights which are fed from a common current conducting wire. For each light there is a current conducting wire leading from the common wire through the light and again con- This current conducting wire is controlled by a corresponding switch, hereinbefore referred to, by means of which the current may be completed through the light or the connection broken.

This device may be illustrated in the following manner -Before the game begins, all of the switches are open. When it is desired to begin the display of the game, main switches No. 1 and 2 should be closed and the current will thus be sent through the common wires 148 and 149. The lights indicating the movements of the players are still invisible when the players take their places on the side lines, before the game begins. When a player, as for example, the one represented by the light 117, goes to the bat, the corresponding switch is closed and the light 117 becomes visible and at the same time the switch 101' is moved to contact point 1" andthe light 1, representing i the home plate, becomes visible and indicatesv that the batter is ready to receive a ball from the pitcher. The switch 105 is then closed on its contact oint 105 and the light 105, representing t ie pitcher, becomes visible. As the ball passes from th e pitcher and is caught bythe catcher, the lswitch 105 is opened and the switch 106 4closed and the light 105 becomesinvisible and the light 106 visible. VIf in the meantime a strike was called, the same may be indicated by closing the switch 140 upon the contact point 140, which will render the light 140 visible. In a similar manner, a ball, an error or an out may be indicated. In case the batter moves from the home plate toward first base, the switch 101 should bemoved successively to the contact point 2, 3, 4, etc. in accordance with the movements of the runner and in case he reaches the first base, the switch 101 should be moved to the contact point 27 In the meantime, all of the ielders will remain invisible, except the one executing al lay and his movements Will be indicated y closing the corresponding switch which will render the light representing said fielder visible. If the base runner reaches the first base, the switch 102 should be moved to its contact-point 27 which will operate to hold the base ruimer on the first base and the switch 101 may be then moved back to its neutral point as shown in Fig. 2. The switch corresponding to the light 117 should then be opened, which will render light 117" invisible and the switch corresponding to the light 118 should be closed and said light will then be rendered visible and at the same time, the switch 101 moved to its contact point 101 which will render visible the light 1 and indicate that the second batter is up. The movements of the pitcher and catcher, as well as the-batter may be indicated as liereinbefore described and the movements of the base runner on .the first base may also be indicated by a,y

suitable manipulation of the switch 102.l

The lights indicatin the home plate and the three bases, as wel as the lights indicating the movements of the runner around the diamond should be red or some other distinctive color, so as to render the'movements of the base runner conspicuous.

It is to be observed that all of the lights are invisible except those indicating the different players in action. When a play has been executed, the light indicating the player which executed said `play is rendered invisible by opening the corresponding switch.

t is obvious that any material' play on the part ofany player on the diamond or in the field may be indicated by closing the proper switch upon the proper contact point and the number of strikes, balls, errors and outs may be indicated in the same manner. p

The switches 101', 102', 103 and 104 are pivoted respectively, at the points 152, 153, 154 and 155, and are arranged to swing around said pivotal points so as to contact successively with the contact points 1 to 27", 27 to 53, 53" to 79 and 79" t0 104", respectively, said contact points being arranged in a circle therearound, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4; the said switches being' in constant contact with the common wires 148 and 149 at the points 156, 157, 158" and contact points 27", by which the light 27 may be controlled, likewise two contact points 53 by means of which the light 53 may be controlled and also two contact points 79" by means of which the electric light 79 may -be controlled and two Contact points 1 by means of which the light 1 may be controlled. v

When the switch 101 is brought into contact with the contact oint 27, the li ht 27 will become visible, the switch 102 s ould then be brought into contact with its contact point 27 which will operate to hold 'the llght 27 vlsible, when the switch 101 is moved back to contact point 1" so as to render the electric light 1 visible and'to indicate that another man yis up. In like manner, when the switch 102 has been'moved around to' vcontact, with the contact point 53, the switch 103 should be moved to contact with its contact point 53 while switch 102 is being moved back to thecontact point 27". Likewise, when the switch 103 has been moved around to the contact point 79, the switch 104 should be moved toits contact point 79, so as to hold the light 79 visible, when the switch 103 is moved back to its original position; the lights 27, 53 and 79 thus being provided wlth'two contact points, through either one of which the said li hts may be connected with their ,correspon ing common conducting wire `by proper manipulation of their corresponding switches.

4From the foregoing specification and the drawings accompanying the same and made a part thereof, it is obvious that the movelar manner -be indicated as the game progresses.

` The diamond and eld indicated by the Fig. 1 will probably be shown on the stage of a dark room, in easy view-of the audience, while `the switch board and the wiring will be concealed from view, the switch board being located at some convenient place for the manipulation of the switches. It `is to be observed that there are two This device is intended to be used for reporting games of baseball which are being actually played and as the information is conveyed to the manipulator, he can readily transmit the same to the audience in the manner hereinbefore indicated. A

What I claim is :4- l

In Va display board, a score board proper,

a plurality of series of lamps arrangedthereon in the form of a diamond, a switch board, a plurality of series of contact oints arranged thereon for controlling the amps, of the series `forming the diamond, electrical connections between the contact points of each series and the lamps of the corre-- sponding series ofl the diamond controlled thereby, a switch for each series of contact points, the switch of any particular series being arranged to be brought into contact -successively* with the points of said series whereby the lamps of the corresponding series of the diamond will be successively, illuminated and extinguished-and a means electrically connectingA the last contact point of one series with the first contact point of the succeeding series.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY DETRICK.

Witnesses: l d

J. W. Woons, Y MAY MONTGOMERY.' 

